The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-12-14
HARPER'S BRIGHT ANGEL.
His True Relations With His Fair CIer
Shown Up Very Clearly.

His True Relations With His Fair Clerk
Shown Up Very Clearly.
CINCINNATI, December S.-Fac smile
cipher letters are published here furnished
by Charles Hopkins, son of Assistant Ben.
4. Hopkins. They purport to be letters
sent by Harper to Miss Josie Holmes, his
former exchange clerk. 1t is explained
that after the failure Harper protested the
warmest friendship fer his assistant CASH
Ter, Hopkins, and promised to do every
thing that could be done o shield him.
Young Hopkins was eorresp ,ndingly kind
to Harper, and beCs-ae his messenger to
carry letters to and from Miss
Holmes. While in this Office he began
to suspect that Harper was arranging to
shirk upon Hopkins the responsibility of
all sDsactions with the grain brokers, and
young Hopkins, to place Harper within
his power, conceived the bold design of
concealiDg the letters and delivering YER
bal messages only. tThis worked well
enough until Miss Holmes visited the jail
Harper was furious upon learning OF the
treachery of his messenger, and has since
been cold toward Hopkins. The letters
were in cipher, which was easily read.
Harper also sent three checks to Miss
Holmes, which Hopkins suppressed and
turned over to District Attorney Burnet.
They aggregated 100000, and it is pre-
suned were intended to be placed so as to
cover up some of the crooked transactions
of his bank. One for $500, 900 was dated
February Is the others for $500, GOO; each
were dated June q.
The letters of Harper to Miss Holmes are
as ardent as those of any lover could be.
In the first one he instructed her about
what she should say q her testimony. She
answered saying che would be as evasive as
pI Int oh -
as he wanted her to. She said he had made
botch by sending Il. to see her, and asked
him why he did not go when he had a
chance. She asked him to send her a
LAWYER to advise her how to testify. To this
Harper replied with mad protestations of
love for his "bright angel" sand upbraided
her for her GOODNESS, and especially for her
cool suggestion that he should have flown.
1t looked to him as thouah she wanted to
get rid of him. He reminded her of his
talk during their last ride together, that he
said the worst thing would be their sepsra-
ton, and that she said that would never
be, and pressing kiss on his lips, said she
would go to prison with him, or if that
could not be, would visit himsdally.
he begged her to get well and come to
him, before she got into the safe deposit
box, otherwise ali would be spoiled. He
also urged her to take no more of the drug,
and decline to be interviewed. In a note
to Hsrper Miss Holmes says: "Your wife
has $500, 600. / have nothing to now do but
die, with your family disgracing me as
they have done in the last two days"
MI. E. l.. Harper was seen at the jail this
morning by reporter and was asked what
he had TO say about the publication of his
letters to Miss Holmes. Harper paused a
moment. ard then with clenched teeth
said: "You can say that Charley Hopkins
did not publish the other letters that
would have benefited me as much as it
wouldlhis father, and that he did not pub
lish anything about the $40 1 gave him for
her. Now, will you excuse me2" and he
finished his toilet and went up stairs where
his wife and sister were in waiting to take
him to the court room. In the court room
Harper gave his usual polite attention to
his wife, and showed but little trace of
trouble. His wife, however, sat like a
statue, oblivious to her surroundings.
There is no doubt Of the authenticity oil
the letters, and they place in a true light
the relations between the ex-banker and
his fair clerk.